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Saturday, September 23
FINA approves mixed pairs proposal
Associated Press
SYDNEY, Australia -- Swimming's governing body took a major
step Thursday toward approving men for synchronized events, meaning
American Bill May will likely be able to compete at the 2004
Olympics.
FINA approved a U.S.-backed proposal to allow mixed pairs
competition, beginning with the 2002 World Cup in Zurich,
Switzerland.
"This is the greatest thing that could have happened to me in
my career at this point," May said. "Had the proposal not passed,
I would have almost certainly been forced to retire from
competition."
Mixed pairs are allowed in American competitions, but FINA rules
have limited the sport to women internationally. The matter will be
referred to the organization's technical committee, which will
draft rules next year for men to begin to compete in international
competitions in 2002.
May, 21, of Cicero, N.Y., and his partner, Olympian Kristina
Lum, won the national duet championships in 1998 and 2000. In their
only opportunity to compete against the best mixed teams in the
world, they earned a silver medal at the 1998 Goodwill Games.
"Of course, I'm very disappointed that Bill is not here with
me," said Lum, who will compete in the team event at Sydney. "He
had the same dream I had."
May gave his partner a stuffed animal before she left for the
Olympics.
"I took a part of him with me," Lum said. "He said it will
bring me good luck."
American coach Chris Carver said the inclusion of men was a
natural progression in the sport. Mixed pairs were recently
approved for the European championships and more males are getting
involved in the United States.
"It will take the choreography to a new level," Carver said.
"Mixed pairs is something we're used to in figure skating. Why not
synchronized swimming?"
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